Oregon State University received a grant of nearly $5 million to develop an obesity prevention and healthy lifestyle program for teenagers.

Unlike many programs that focus on treatment of children already at risk of obesity, this new program will aim at active high school-age teens involved in 4-H soccer programs in Oregon.

Goal

The goal of the project is to develop and test an obesity prevention and healthy lifestyle program for active teenagers.

Why Active Youth?

We think there is a window of opportunity to work with youth, their coaches and their parents/primary caregivers when they are active in sports and potentially interested in sports nutrition and life skills that also support lifelong healthy lifestyles.

Benefits of Participation

Some of these benefits include, but not limited to:

• Opportunity to possibly become healthier and stronger players in sports year round.
• Participation in a cutting-edge research project that involves exciting and engaging state-of-the-art technology.
• Exposure to higher education by interfacing with Oregon State University students, faculty and campus.

Participants

The project began the fall of 2014 with high schools in Corvallis and Lebanon. In the fall of 2015, it expanded to high school soccer teams in the Salem and Eugene area. The WAVE project is currently working with over 600 youth in these high schools.

Sponsor

This project is funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture – Agriculture Food and Research Initiative (Award No. 2013-67001-20418).

OSU Student Volunteers and Interns

Numerous OSU students volunteer on this project, many for credit. If you are interested in finding out more, email us.

Press Releases

• OSU receives $4.7 million USDA grant to help Oregon teens stay healthy
• The WAVE~Ripples for Change Open House applauds collaboration
• Virtual Health